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Launceston Airport Visitor Booth.

Airport - Final

Our brief was to design an innovative information counter, both in function and appearance. Our design intent was to challenge the typology of the traditional information desk, and to design a unique object that was symbolic of the Tasmanian identity. The Booth was designed in timber to reflect, the identity of Tasmania’s unique wilderness and natural environments.

Timber ribs form the structure of the Booth, referring the technique of traditional boat building, this structure is clad with Marine grade Hoop Pine Plywood. The smooth surfaces of the sheet material exemplifies a quality of woodworking craftsmanship that Tasmania is renowned for. The Plywood is sealed with low-sheen polyurethane, which enhances the grain of the timber and protects the high-use surfaces.

American Walnut veneer has been applied to the back wall of the Booth. The dark grain of the Walnut veneer amplifies the golden patina of the Plywood and grounds the booth within the light-filled arrivals area. Within the horizontal band of Plywood cabinetry, which sits in front of the Walnut Veneer, is an abstract graphic. The graphic was abstracted from a Tasmanian map and represents the potential journeys awaiting the traveller. Routed out of the Plywood panel using CNC router technology the screen is backlit with LED lights to catch the eye of passing visitors.

The external form of the Booth reflects our analysis of visitor flows and circulation around the baggage carousels and the main exits. The Northern side of the booth is angled to create a space that invites people to pick up brochures and use the computer booking services. This is the active edge of the Booth and is designed to stimulate the interest of visitors to the airport as they move past on their way to the main exit.

Use of Material | Working with a sheet material such as plywood allowed us to design the booth as a series of angled planes. These angles create a form that responds equally to both our analysis of visitor flows and our desire to create visual stimulation and awareness of the Booth. By designing to the size of full sheets we minimised wastage and the number of joins creating continuous uninterrupted surfaces. The cabinetry in the booth is detailed to highlight joints and junctions through the laminations in the Plywood. In contrast the surfaces of the counter employ mitred edges that created the illusion of seamless folds in the timber surface.